Men's Basketball Adds Mark Amaral To Complete Coaching Staff

Jun 15, 2000

June 15, 2000

Santa Barbara, Calif. -
Mark Amaral, the head coach at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington since 1997, has been selected as an assistant coach in the UC Santa Barbara men's basketball program, head coach Bob Williams announced today.

Amaral arrived at Peninsula College in 1997 to resurrect a basketball program after a 17 year absence from intercollegiate athletics. In the program's first season back, he guided it to a respectable 11-16 record. In 1998-99, finished 19-9 and then in 1999-2000, Amaral guided his team to a school-record 28 victories, a conference championship and a sixth-place finish at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Tournament. In three seasons, Amaral's teams posted a 58-30 record.

"Mark is a great addition for us. He fits perfectly into our staff," Williams said. "He brings great J.C. head coaching experience with him, but he has also been an assistant at the four-year level so he really offers the best of both worlds. Mark is extremely knowledgeable in the passing game and he will really help us in that area. I tried to recruit him to my staff at UC Davis and now, I am very happy that he will be joining us here at UCSB."

Prior to becoming head coach at Peninsula College in 1997, Amaral spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Montana Tech, starting with the 1994-95 season and ending with the 1996-97 campaign. In 1993-94, he was a Basketball Scouting Service Director. Amaral spent one year (1992-93) as an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark State College in Idaho and for two years (1990-92) he was an assistant coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," Amaral said. "I look forward to being part of Coach Williams' staff and I believe this program a chance to accomplish some great things."

Amaral spent two years as a player at West Valley Community College before moving on to play his final two years at The College of Idaho. In addition to his coaching duties at Peninsula College, he was a physical education instructor and Community and High School Relations Coordinator.

Amaral, a native of San Jose, received his BA in Business/Marketing in 1990 from The College of Idaho. In 1994, he completed his MA in Physical Education at Idaho State. He is married (Chris) and has a two-year old son (Tanner).